Dora Wilson

Dora Lynnell Wilson (31 August 1883 - 21 November 1946) was a British-born Australian artist, best known in her adopted country of Australia for her etchings and street scenes.

Dora Lynnell Wilson
Dora Lynnell Wilson (1883-1946) British-born Australian artist c.1926
Born
Dora Lynnell Wilson

(1883-08-31)31 August 1883
Newcastle upon Tyne
Died21 November 1946(1946-11-21) (aged 63)
Melbourne
OccupationArtist

Early life

Dora Lynnell Wilson was born on 31 August 1883 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Her parents were James Wilson, agent, and Annie Maria, née Green.[1] The family emigrated to the state of Victoria in Australia in 1884, when Dora was a year old.

Education

Wilson was educated at Somerset School and Methodist Ladies' College in Melbourne. From 1901-1906 she studied at the National Gallery under Bernard Hall and Frederick McCubbin, forming friendships with fellow artists Ruth Hollick[2], Gwendolyn Grant, Nora Gurdon, and her partner Pegg Clarke.[3] She also took lessons from John Mather with Jessie Traill and Janie Wilkinson Whyte.[1]

Artistic career

Wilson was best known for her etchings, pastels and oils of still lifes and nudes. Her work was praised for her 'strong sense of colour' but also critiqued for demonstrating a 'chocolate box prettiness'.[4] Her work was included in a number of notable exhibitions, including the Australian Exhibition of Women's Work in Melbourne, a Royal Academy exhibition of Australian art in London.[5] In 1923 her work, 'Reve d'Or', was reproduced on the cover of Women's World.[1]

From the 1920s onwards she concentrated largely on street scenes, and in 1923 she was commissioned by Sir Baldwin Spencer to undertake a series of paintings of European landmarks, which saw her travelling around Europe for over two years, accompanied by the photographer Pegg Clarke.[1] In 1928 these works were exhibited at the Beaux Arts Gallery, London,[6] and the following year at Australia House. In the early 1930s she focused on historical scenes from Melbourne's history, with an exhibition entitltled 'Milestones of Melbourne' held at the Fine Art Society Gallery in March 1935.[7] Her work was received favorably by Arthur Streeton for being "fresh in colour and treatment and free from the depressing appearance of black paint."[8]



Death

Wilson died of cancer on 21 November 1946 and was cremated at Springvale Cemetery, Melbourne.[9] She made a bequest to the National Gallery trustees in the amount of ₤1100 as it was her wish to help Australian artists to travel abroad.[10]

Further reading

Notebooks of Dora L Wilson (ca. 1900-1960) [manuscript], State Library Victoria

Dora L. Wilson [Australian art and artists file], State Library Victoria

McCaul, Dermot. Chance encounters with Australian art (State Library Victoria)

References
  1. Lee, Mary Alice. "Wilson, Dora Lynnell (1883–1946)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  2. Van Wyk, Susan (2011). "Ruth Hollick b. 17 March 1883". Design & Art Australia Online.
  3. "Heard Here and There". Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957). 26 September 1936. p. 24. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  4. "Dora Wilson's Exhibition". The Sydney Morning Herald. 20 April 1926. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  5. "Australian Art: The Exhibition in London". The Age (Melbourne, VIC). 26 May 1923. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  6. "Artist's Exhibition". The Sun (Sydney, NSW). 1 July 1929. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  7. "Milestones of Melbourne by Dora L. Wilson". State Library of Victoria. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  8. "ART EXHIBITIONS". Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957). 20 March 1930. p. 13. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  9. "Obituary - Miss Dora Wilson". The Argus. 23 November 1946. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  10. "ARTIST'S OFFER OF SCHOLARSHIP". Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954). 5 December 1947. p. 2. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
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